Chapter 10: A Test of Strength

The next day, Maxim woke up with a sense of restlessness. His mind was still racing with thoughts of what had happened the day before—the way he had lifted the pouch, how the bottle had shattered in his hand. It was exhilarating, yes, but also unsettling. His powers were still a mystery, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.

After school, he and Daniel met up at their usual spot near the edge of the woods. Daniel, as always, was buzzing with energy, ready for another round of experiments.

"So," Daniel said, grinning as he tossed his backpack on the ground, "what's on the agenda today? More rock lifting? Or maybe we try something bigger?"

Maxim shrugged, glancing around the clearing. "I don't know. I feel like we've been going in circles. I can't figure out what makes it work, or why it fails sometimes."

Daniel frowned, his excitement dimming slightly. "Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. Maybe we need to push you harder. Try something you haven't done before."

Maxim raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"I don't know, something more physical?" Daniel suggested, his eyes flickering with an idea. "What if you try lifting something really heavy? Or maybe... maybe you try to lift yourself?"

Maxim blinked, taken aback. "Lift myself?"

"Yeah," Daniel said, nodding eagerly. "You've moved rocks and leaves and stuff, right? What if you could move yourself the same way? Like, levitation!"

The idea was wild, but Maxim couldn't deny that it intrigued him. If he could lift objects, why not himself? It was worth a try, at least.

They moved to a more open area of the clearing, where the ground was soft and covered in moss. If Maxim fell, at least it wouldn't hurt too much.

"Okay," Maxim said, taking a deep breath. "I'll give it a shot."

He closed his eyes and focused, grounding himself in the sensation of the earth beneath his feet. He imagined the energy flowing through him, connecting him to the ground, the air, the sky. Slowly, he raised his arms, trying to visualize himself lifting off the ground, just like he had done with the rocks and the leaves.

At first, nothing happened. Maxim gritted his teeth, concentrating harder. He could feel the energy swirling around him, faint but growing stronger. His heart pounded in his chest as he focused all his will on the simple act of rising.

Then, just for a moment, he felt it—a strange, weightless sensation, like the ground had dropped away from beneath his feet. His eyes flew open, and for the briefest second, he was hovering, an inch or two off the ground.

But just as quickly, the sensation vanished. His feet hit the ground with a dull thud, and Maxim stumbled, nearly losing his balance.

Daniel's eyes were wide with excitement. "Did you see that? You were floating, dude! You actually did it!"

Maxim shook his head, his breath coming in short gasps. "Barely. It was like... for a second, then it was gone."

"But it worked," Daniel insisted, his voice filled with awe. "That means you can do it again. You just need more practice."

Maxim wasn't sure. His head was spinning from the effort, and the strange, weightless feeling had left him disoriented. But there was no denying that he had lifted himself, even if only for a moment.

As they prepared to leave for the day, Daniel suggested they meet earlier the next day. "We've got to keep pushing. Who knows what else you can do?"

Maxim nodded, though part of him was hesitant. Every time he pushed his abilities, something unpredictable happened. But at the same time, the potential was too exciting to ignore.

---

The following day, Maxim was determined to try again. He and Daniel met in the woods after school, and this time, Maxim felt a renewed sense of focus. He was going to control this power—he had to.

They began with the levitation experiment again, but after several attempts, the results were the same. Maxim could lift himself a few inches off the ground, but the sensation never lasted long. Each time, he felt the power slipping away before he could gain full control.

Frustrated, Maxim dropped to the ground, breathing heavily. "I don't get it. I know I can do it, but it's like... like something's holding me back."

Daniel frowned, deep in thought. "Maybe you're thinking too much. What if you just... let go? Stop trying so hard and just let the power flow."

Maxim considered this. Daniel might have been right—he had been so focused on controlling the power that maybe he was overthinking it. What if he just allowed himself to feel it, without forcing it?

Taking a deep breath, Maxim stood up again. This time, he didn't close his eyes or concentrate as hard. He simply let the energy flow through him, feeling it rise from the ground, through his legs, and up into his chest. Slowly, he raised his arms, not forcing the movement but allowing it to happen naturally.

And then, without warning, he felt it again—the weightlessness, the sensation of being lifted off the ground. But this time, it was different. This time, he wasn't just floating for a second. He was rising, higher and higher, until his feet were a full foot off the ground.

Daniel let out a gasp of amazement. "Dude, you're flying!"

Maxim's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He could feel the power surging through him, like a river flowing in perfect harmony. He was in control, for the first time, and the sensation was exhilarating.

But just as quickly as it had started, it ended. Maxim felt the power slip away, and he dropped back to the ground, landing with a soft thud.

Daniel rushed over, his face alight with excitement. "That was amazing! You were up there for like, a full minute!"

Maxim grinned, still catching his breath. "I don't know about a minute, but... yeah. It felt different this time."

Daniel clapped him on the back. "You're getting stronger. I can feel it. Whatever this power is, you're starting to control it."

Maxim nodded, though part of him still felt uncertain. The power was growing, that much was clear. But with each new discovery, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more—something bigger, waiting just beneath the surface.

And he wasn't sure if he was ready for what that might be.